Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Altium Develop unites design, sourcing, and manufacturing in one cloud platform—giving your whole team real-time visibility to build electronics without constraints: altium.com/develop?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=ontrack-podcast&utm_content=altium-api-deep-dive-opening-pcb-data-to-developers
In this episode of the Altium OnTrack Podcast, host Zach Peterson sits down with Rob Barton, Head of Platform API at Altium, for a deep dive into how programmatic access is transforming PCB design and electronics development. Rob traces the evolution of Altium's API—from the early disconnected SDKs and the launch of Nexar, through Octopart supply data, all the way to the new Platform API that exposes design data, supply chain intelligence, and manufacturing services through a single, federated GraphQL schema. If you've ever wanted to connect Altium 365 and Altium Designer data directly into your own systems, this conversation maps out exactly where the technology is heading.
Through two live demos, Rob shows how to query live Octopart supply data—pricing, availability, RoHS compliance, and BOM resolution—then navigates the Platform API down to individual PCB layers, nets, and track coordinates. The discussion also explores API-first design philosophy, why discoverable APIs now matter for AI agents and MCP servers, and the upcoming Altium Developer Center that will open this platform to engineers, enterprises, and third-party developers. Whether you're a procurement professional, a PCB designer, or building AI-enabled tools on top of electronics data, this episode is a clear look at the future of open, programmatic hardware design.
👉 Resources from this episode:
- Leigh Gawne on the Launch and Significance of Altium 365: youtu.be/sxI6j5s1P_4
- Connect with Rob: linkedin.com/in/rob-barton
- Interested in the closed beta? Drop a comment and let us know!
💡 Stay Connected:
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth tutorials and tips from @AltiumAcademy Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
👉 Subscribe for more: youtube.com/@AltiumAcademy?sub_confirmation=1
Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content.
👉 Follow Altium on TikTok: tiktok.com/@altiumdesigner
👉 Follow Altium on Twitter: twitter.com/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Facebook: facebook.com/AltiumOfficial
The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
#Altium #PCBDesign #API
0:00 Intro
2:41 Rob Barton Background Journey
5:55 Altium Cloud Focus Shift ️
8:56 Nexar's Unifying Mission
13:07 Platform API Fork Explained
17:34 API First Design Benefits
20:53 GraphQL: Data Query Language
24:34 Nitro IDE: Interactive Query
27:32 Filtering Data in GraphQL
30:07 Inventory Pricing Details
33:04 Platform API Design Overview ️
35:26 Design Project Metadata
38:13 Querying PCB Track Data
40:49 Design Item Filtering
43:48 API's Transformative Power
46:16 Conclusion & Farewell
Altium Develop unites design, sourcing, and manufacturing in one cloud platform—giving your whole team real-time visibility to build electronics without constraints: altium.com/develop?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=ontrack-podcast&utm_content=altium-api-deep-dive-opening-pcb-data-to-developers
In this episode of the Altium OnTrack Podcast, host Zach Peterson sits down with Rob Barton, Head of Platform API at Altium, for a deep dive into how programmatic access is transforming PCB design and electronics development. Rob traces the evolution of Altium's API—from the early disconnected SDKs and the launch of Nexar, through Octopart supply data, all the way to the new Platform API that exposes design data, supply chain intelligence, and manufacturing services through a single, federated GraphQL schema. If you've ever wanted to connect Altium 365 and Altium Designer data directly into your own systems, this conversation maps out exactly where the technology is heading.
Through two live demos, Rob shows how to query live Octopart supply data—pricing, availability, RoHS compliance, and BOM resolution—then navigates the Platform API down to individual PCB layers, nets, and track coordinates. The discussion also explores API-first design philosophy, why discoverable APIs now matter for AI agents and MCP servers, and the upcoming Altium Developer Center that will open this platform to engineers, enterprises, and third-party developers. Whether you're a procurement professional, a PCB designer, or building AI-enabled tools on top of electronics data, this episode is a clear look at the future of open, programmatic hardware design.
👉 Resources from this episode:
- Leigh Gawne on the Launch and Significance of Altium 365: youtu.be/sxI6j5s1P_4
- Connect with Rob: linkedin.com/in/rob-barton
- Interested in the closed beta? Drop a comment and let us know!
💡 Stay Connected:
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth tutorials and tips from @AltiumAcademy Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
👉 Subscribe for more: youtube.com/@AltiumAcademy?sub_confirmation=1
Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content.
👉 Follow Altium on TikTok: tiktok.com/@altiumdesigner
👉 Follow Altium on Twitter: twitter.com/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Facebook: facebook.com/AltiumOfficial
The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
#Altium #PCBDesign #API
0:00 Intro
2:41 Rob Barton Background Journey
5:55 Altium Cloud Focus Shift ️
8:56 Nexar's Unifying Mission
13:07 Platform API Fork Explained
17:34 API First Design Benefits
20:53 GraphQL: Data Query Language
24:34 Nitro IDE: Interactive Query
27:32 Filtering Data in GraphQL
30:07 Inventory Pricing Details
33:04 Platform API Design Overview ️
35:26 Design Project Metadata
38:13 Querying PCB Track Data
40:49 Design Item Filtering
43:48 API's Transformative Power
46:16 Conclusion & Farewell
